Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS), Overview Information; National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)-Small Business Innovation Research Program (SBIR)-Phase I; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009, 52332-52337 [E8-20906]
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ESTIMATED ANNUAL REPORTING BURDEN
Annual
number of
respondents
17 CFR section
Part 190 ...........................................................................................................
There are no capital costs or operating
and maintenance costs associated with
this collection.
Dated: September 3, 2008.
David Stawick,
Secretary of the Commission.
[FR Doc. E8–20876 Filed 9–8–08; 8:45 am]
SUMMARY: The Secretary announces the
members of the Performance Review
Board (PRB) for the Department of
Education for the Senior Executive
Service (SES) performance cycle that
ends September 30, 2008. Under 5
U.S.C. 4314(c)(1) through (5), each
agency is required to establish one or
more PRBs.
Notice of Intent To Grant a Partially
Exclusive Patent License
Department of the Air Force,
DOD.
Notice.
SUMMARY: Pursuant to the provisions of
Part 404 of Title 37, Code of Federal
Regulations, which implements Public
Law 96–517, as amended, the
Department of the Air Force announces
its intention to grant Allcomp,
Incorporated, a California corporation,
having a place of business at 209 Puente
Avenue, City of Industry, California
91746–2304 an exclusive license in any
right, title and interest the Air Force has
in:
U.S. Patent No. 6,309,703, issued 30
October 2001, entitled ‘‘Carbon and Ceramic
Matrix Composites Fabricated by a Rapid
Low-Cost Process Incorporating In-Situ
Polymerization of Wetting Monomers,’’ by
Phillip G. Wapner, Wesley P. Hoffman and
Steven Jones.
A license for this patent will be
granted unless a written objection is
received within fifteen (15) days from
the date of publication of this Notice.
DATES:
Written
objection should be sent to: Air Force
Material Command Law Office,
AFMCLO/JAZ, Building 11, room D18,
2240 B Street, Wright Patterson AFB,
OH 45433–7109. Telephone: (937) 255–
2838; Facsimile (937) 255–7333.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Bao-Anh Trinh,
Air Force Federal Register Liaison Officer.
[FR Doc. E8–20880 Filed 9–8–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 5001–05–P
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Office of Management; Notice of
Membership of the Performance
Review Board
Department of Education.
Notice of Membership of the
Performance Review Board.
Department of the Air Force
ACTION:
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
ACTION:
DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE
AGENCY:
301
AGENCY:
BILLING CODE 6351–01–P
Composition and Duties
The PRB of the Department of
Education for 2008 is composed of
career senior executives, noncareer
senior executives, and Presidential
appointees.
The PRB reviews and evaluates the
initial appraisal of each senior
executive’s performance, along with any
comments by that senior executive and
by any higher-level executive or
executives. The PRB makes
recommendations to the appointing
authority relative to the performance of
the senior executive, including
recommendations on performance
awards. The Department of Education’s
PRB also makes recommendations on
SES pay adjustments for career senior
executives.
Membership
The Secretary has selected the
following executives of the Department
of Education for the specified SES
performance cycle: Chris Marston
(Chair), Cheryl Oldham, Philip Link,
Thomas Skelly, Ricky Takai, Wendy
Tada, Paul Riddle, and Danny Harris.
Alternate members are: JoAnn Ryan and
Larry Kean.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Mary Beth Pultz, Director, Executive
Resources Team, Human Resources
Services, Office of Management, U.S.
Department of Education, 400 Maryland
Avenue, SW., Room 2E124, LBJ,
Washington, DC 20202–4573.
Telephone: (202) 401–0853.
If you use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD), you may call
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Total annual
responses
Hours per
response
4951
Total hours
0.20
248
the Federal Relay Service (FRS) at 1–
800–877–8339.
Individuals with disabilities may
obtain this document in an alternative
format (e.g., Braille, large print,
audiotape, or computer diskette) on
request to the contact person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT.
Electronic Access to This Document
You may view this document, as well
as all other Department of Education
documents published in the Federal
Register, in text or Adobe Portable
Document Format (PDF) on the Internet
at the following site: https://www.ed.gov/
news/fedregister.
To use PDF, you must have Adobe
Acrobat Reader, which is available free
at this site. If you have questions about
using PDF, call the U.S. Government
Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1–
888–293–6498; or in the Washington,
DC, area at (202) 512–1530.
Note: The official version of this document
is the document published in the Federal
Register. Free Internet access to the official
edition of the Federal Register and the Code
of Federal Regulations is available on GPO
Access at: https://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/
index.html.
Dated: September 4, 2008.
Margaret Spellings,
Secretary of Education.
[FR Doc. E8–20903 Filed 9–8–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services (OSERS),
Overview Information; National
Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)—
Small Business Innovation Research
Program (SBIR)—Phase I; Notice
Inviting Applications for New Awards
for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009
Catalog of Federal Domestic
Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.133S–1.
DATES:
Applications Available: September 9,
2008.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: November 10, 2008.
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Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of
this program is to stimulate
technological innovation in the private
sector, strengthen the role of small
business in meeting Federal research or
research and development (R/R&D)
needs, increase the commercial
application of the U.S. Department of
Education (Department) supported
research results, and improve the return
on investment from federally funded
research for economic and social
benefits to the Nation.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
Note: This program is in concert with
President George W. Bush’s New Freedom
Initiative (NFI) and NIDRR’s Final LongRange Plan for FY 2005–2009 (Plan). The NFI
can be accessed on the Internet at the
following site: https://www.whitehouse.gov/
infocus/newfreedom.
The Plan, which was published in the
Federal Register on February 15, 2006
(71 FR Doc 8166), can be accessed on
the Internet at the following site:
https://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/
osers/nidrr/policy.html.
Through the implementation of the
NFI and the Plan, NIDRR seeks to: (1)
Improve the quality and utility of
disability and rehabilitation research;
(2) foster an exchange of expertise,
information, and training to facilitate
the advancement of knowledge and
understanding of the unique needs of
individuals with disabilities from
traditionally underserved populations;
(3) determine best strategies and
programs to improve rehabilitation
outcomes for individuals with
disabilities from underserved
populations; (4) identify research gaps;
(5) identify mechanisms of integrating
research and practice; and (6)
disseminate findings.
NIDRR Supports ManufacturingRelated Innovation (Executive Order
13329): Executive Order 13329 states
that continued technological innovation
is critical to a strong manufacturing
sector in the United States economy and
ensures that Federal agencies assist the
private sector in its manufacturing
innovation efforts. The Department’s
SBIR program encourages innovative
research and development (R&D)
projects that are manufacturing-related,
as defined by Executive Order 13329.
Manufacturing-related R&D
encompasses improvements in existing
methods or processes, or wholly new
processes, machines, or systems. The
projects supported under the
Department’s SBIR program encompass
a range of manufacturing-related R&D,
including projects leading to the
manufacture of such items as artificial
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intelligence or information technology
devices, software, and systems. For
more information on Executive Order
13329, please visit the following Web
site: https://www.sba.gov/sbir/
execorder.html or contact Lynn Medley
at: lynn.medley@ed.gov.
Background
The Small Business Reauthorization
Act of 2000 (Act) was enacted on
December 21, 2000. The Act requires
certain agencies, including the
Department, to establish SBIR programs
by reserving a statutory percentage of
their extramural R&D budgets to be
awarded to small business concerns
through a uniform, highly competitive
three-phase process.
The three phases of the SBIR program
are:
Phase I: Phase I projects determine,
insofar as possible, the scientific or
technical merit and feasibility of ideas
submitted under the SBIR program. An
application for Phase I should
concentrate on research that will
significantly contribute to proving the
scientific or technical feasibility of the
approach or concept. Scientific or
technical feasibility is a prerequisite to
further support by the Department in
Phase II.
Phase II: Phase II projects expand on
the results of and further pursue the
development of Phase I projects. Phase
II is the principal R/R&D effort of the
SBIR program. Applications for Phase II
projects must be more comprehensive
than applications for Phase I projects;
Phase II applications must outline the
proposed effort in detail, including the
commercial potential of projects or
processes developed or researched
during the Phase I project. Phase II
applicants must be Phase I grantees with
approaches that appear sufficiently
promising as a result of their efforts in
Phase I. Phase II awards are for periods
of up to two years in amounts up to a
maximum total of $500,000 over a
period of two years.
Phase III: In Phase III, the small
business grantee must use non-SBIR
capital to pursue commercial
applications of the R/R&D. Also, under
Phase III, Federal agencies may award
non-SBIR follow-on funding for
products or processes that meet the
needs of those agencies.
All SBIR projects funded by NIDRR
must address the needs of individuals
with disabilities and their families. (See
29 U.S.C. 762.) Activities may include:
conducting manufacturing-related R&D
that encompasses improvements in
existing methods or processes, or
wholly new processes, machines, or
systems; exploring the uses of
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technology to ensure equal access to
education, employment, community
environments, and information for
individuals with disabilities; and
improving the quality and utility of
disability and rehabilitation research.
Priorities: Under this competition we
are particularly interested in
applications that address one of the
following priorities.
Invitational Priorities: For FY 2009
these priorities are invitational
priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) we
do not give an application that meets
one of these invitational priorities a
competitive or absolute preference over
other applications.
These priorities are:
Each of the following priorities relate
to innovative research utilizing new
technologies to address the needs of
individuals with disabilities and their
families. Applicants who choose to
respond to one of the invitational
priorities must propose projects whose
activities contribute to one of the
following outcomes:
(1) Increased independence of
individuals with disabilities in the
workplace, recreational settings, or
educational settings through the
development of technology to support
access and promote integration of
individuals with disabilities.
(2) Enhanced sensory or motor
function of individuals with disabilities
through the development of technology
to support improved functional
capacity.
(3) Enhanced workforce participation
through the development of technology
to support access to employment,
promote sustained employment, and
promote employment advancement for
individuals with disabilities.
(4) Enhanced community
participation and living for individuals
with disabilities through the
development of accessible information
technology including Web access
technology, software, and other systems
and devices that promote access to
information in educational,
employment, and community settings,
and voting technology that improves
access for individuals with disabilities.
(5) Improved interventions and
increased use of health-care resources
through the development of technology
to support independent access to healthcare services in the community for
individuals with disabilities.
Applicants should describe the
approaches they expect to use to collect
empirical evidence demonstrating the
effectiveness of the technology they are
proposing. This empirical evidence
should facilitate the assessment of the
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efficacy and usefulness of the
technology.
Note: The Department is not bound by any
estimates in this notice.
Note: NIDRR encourages applicants to
adhere to universal design principles and
guidelines. Universal design is defined as
‘‘the design of products and environments to
be usable by all people, to the greatest extent
possible, without the need for adaptation or
specialized design’’ (The Center for Universal
Design, 1997). Accessible design of consumer
products minimizes or alleviates barriers that
reduce the ability of individuals with
disabilities to effectively or safely use
standard consumer products. (For more
information see https://www.trace.wisc.edu/
docs/consumer_product_guidelines/
consumer.pcs/disabil.htm ).
Maximum Project Period: We will
reject any application that proposes a
project period that exceeds a single
budget period of up to six months. The
Assistant Secretary for Special
Education and Rehabilitative Services
may change the maximum project
period through a notice published in the
Federal Register.
Reference: The Center for Universal
Design. (1997). The Principles of
Universal Design, Version 2.0. Raleigh,
NC: North Carolina State University.
Web: www.design.ncsu.edu.
Program Authority: The Small
Business Act, Pub. L. 85–536, as
amended (15 U.S.C. 631 and 638), and
title II of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973,
as amended (29 U.S.C. 760, et seq.).
Applicable Regulations: The
Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in
34 CFR parts 75, 77, 81, 82, 84, 85, 97,
98, and 99.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: The
Administration has requested
$105,700,000 for the National Institute
on Disability and Rehabilitation
Research for FY 2009, of which we
intend to use an estimated $1,125,000
for new Phase I awards under the SBIR
program. The actual level of funding, if
any, depends on final congressional
action. However, we are inviting
applications to allow enough time to
complete the grant process if Congress
appropriates funds for this program.
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Note: The estimated amount of funds
available for new Phase I awards is based
upon the estimated threshold SBIR allocation
for OSERS, minus prior commitments for
Phase II continuation awards.
Estimated Range of Awards: $70,000–
$75,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards:
$75,000.
Maximum Award: We will reject any
application that proposes a budget
exceeding $75,000 for a single budget
period of up to six months. The
Assistant Secretary for Special
Education and Rehabilitative Services
may change the maximum amount
through a notice published in the
Federal Register.
Note: The maximum award amount
includes direct and indirect costs and fees.
Estimated Number of Awards: 15.
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III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: Entities that
are, at the time of award, small business
concerns as defined by the Small
Business Administration (SBA). This
definition is included in the application
package.
All technology, science, or
engineering firms with strong research
capabilities in any of the priority areas
listed in this notice are encouraged to
participate.
Consultative or other arrangements
between these firms and universities or
other non-profit organizations are
permitted, but the small business
concern must serve as the grantee. For
Phase I projects, at least two-thirds of
the research and/or analytic activities
must be performed by the proposing
small business concern. Furthermore,
the total of all consultant fees, facility
leases or usage fees, and other
subcontracts or purchase agreements
may not exceed one-third of the total
funding award.
If it appears that an applicant
organization does not meet the
eligibility requirements, we will request
an evaluation by the SBA. Under
circumstances in which eligibility is
unclear, we will not make an SBIR
award until the SBA makes a
determination.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This
program does not require cost sharing or
matching.
IV. Application and Submission
Information
1. Address to Request Application
Package: You can obtain an application
package via the Internet or from the
Education Publications Center (ED
Pubs). To obtain a copy via the Internet,
use the following address: https://
www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/
grantapps/.
To obtain a copy from ED Pubs, write,
fax, or call the following: Education
Publications Center, P.O. Box 1398,
Jessup, MD 20794–1398. Telephone, toll
free: 1–877–433–7827. FAX: (301) 470–
1244. If you use a telecommunications
device for the deaf (TDD), call, toll free:
1–877–576–7734.
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You can contact ED Pubs at its Web
site, also: https://www.ed.gov/pubs/
edpubs.html or at its e-mail address:
edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
If you request an application from ED
Pubs, be sure to identify this
competition as follows: CFDA number
84.133S–1.
Individuals with disabilities can
obtain a copy of the application package
in an alternative format (e.g. , Braille,
large print, audiotape, or computer
diskette) by contacting the person listed
under Alternative Format in section VIII
of this notice.
2. Content and Form of Application
Submission: Requirements concerning
the content of an application, together
with the forms you must submit, are in
the application package for this
competition.
Page Limit: The application narrative
(Part III of the application) is where you,
the applicant, address the selection
criteria that reviewers use to evaluate
your application. You must limit the
application narrative (Part III) to the
equivalent of no more than 25 pages,
excluding any documentation of prior
multiple Phase II awards, if applicable,
and required forms, using the following
standards:
• A ‘‘page’’ is 8.5″ × 11″, on one side
only, with 1″ margins at the top, bottom,
and both sides.
• Single space all text in the
application narrative. Single space
titles, headings, footnotes, quotations,
references, and captions, as well as all
text in charts, tables, figures, and
graphs.
• Use a font that is either 12 point or
larger or no smaller than 10 pitch
(characters per inch).
The page limit does not apply to Part
I, the coversheet; Part II, the budget
section, including the narrative budget
justification; Part IV, the assurances and
certifications; or the one-page abstract,
the resumes, the bibliography, the
letters of support; related application(s)
or award(s); or documentation of
multiple Phase II awards, if applicable.
However, the page limit does apply to
all of the application narrative section
(Part III).
We will reject your application if you
exceed the page limit.
The application package will provide
instructions for completing all
components to be included in the
application. Each application must
include a cover sheet (Standard Form
424); budget requirements (ED Form
524) and narrative justification; other
required forms; an abstract, Human
Subjects narrative, Part III narrative;
resume of staff; and other related
materials, if applicable.
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3. Content Restrictions: If an applicant
chooses to respond to more than one
invitational priority, the applicant must
submit a separate application for each
priority. There is no limitation on the
number of different applications that an
applicant may submit under this
competition. An applicant may submit
separate applications on different
priorities, or different applications on
the same priority. However, an
applicant may address only one priority
in an application.
The Plan is organized around the
following research domains and arenas:
(1) Community Living and Participation;
(2) Health and Function; (3)
Technology; (4) Employment; and (5)
Demographics. Applicants should
indicate, for each application, the
domain or arena under which they are
applying. In their applications,
applicants should clearly indicate
whether they are applying for a research
grant in the area of (1) Community
Living and Participation; (2) Health and
Function; (3) Technology; (4)
Employment; or (5) Demographics. No
more than one designation should be
selected for each application.
4. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: September 9,
2008.
Deadline for Transmittal of
Applications: November 10, 2008.
Applications for grants under this
competition may be submitted
electronically using the Grants.gov
Apply site (Grants.gov), or in paper
format by mail or hand delivery. For
information (including dates and times)
about how to submit your application
electronically, or in paper format by
mail or hand delivery, please refer to
section IV. 7. Other Submission
Requirements in this notice.
We do not consider an application
that does not comply with the deadline
requirements.
Individuals with disabilities who
need an accommodation or auxiliary aid
in connection with the application
process should contact the person listed
under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
CONTACT in section VII in this notice. If
the Department provides an
accommodation or auxiliary aid to an
individual with a disability in
connection with the application
process, the individual’s application
remains subject to all other
requirements and limitations in this
notice.
5. Intergovernmental Review: This
program is not subject to Executive
Order 12372 and the regulations in 34
CFR part 79.
6. Funding Restrictions: We reference
regulations outlining funding
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restrictions in the Applicable
Regulations section in this notice.
7. Other Submission Requirements:
Applications for grants under this
program may be submitted
electronically or in paper format by mail
or hand delivery.
a. Electronic Submission of
Applications.
To comply with the President’s
Management Agenda, we are
participating as a partner in the
Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site.
The SBIR Program, CFDA Number
84.133S–1, is included in this project.
We request your participation in
Grants.gov.
If you choose to submit your
application electronically, you must use
the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply
site at https://www.Grants.gov. Through
this site, you will be able to download
a copy of the application package,
complete it offline, and then upload and
submit your application. You may not email an electronic copy of a grant
application to us.
You may access the electronic grant
application for the SBIR Program at:
https://www.Grants.gov. You must search
for the downloadable application
package for this competition by the
CFDA number. Do not include the
CFDA number’s alpha suffix in your
search (e.g. , search for 84.133, not
84.133S).
Please note the following:
• Your participation in Grants.gov is
voluntary.
• When you enter the Grants.gov site,
you will find information about
submitting an application electronically
through the site, as well as the hours of
operation.
• Applications received by
Grants.gov are date and time stamped.
Your application must be fully
uploaded and submitted and must be
date and time stamped by the
Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the
application deadline date. Except as
otherwise noted in this section, we will
not accept your application if it is
received—that is, date and time
stamped by the Grants.gov system—after
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on
the application deadline date. We do
not consider an application that does
not comply with the deadline
requirements. When we retrieve your
application from Grants.gov, we will
notify you if we are rejecting your
application because it was date and time
stamped by the Grants.gov system after
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on
the application deadline date.
• The amount of time it can take to
upload an application will vary
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depending on a variety of factors,
including the size of the application and
the speed of your Internet connection.
Therefore, we strongly recommend that
you do not wait until the application
deadline date to begin the submission
process through Grants.gov.
• You should review and follow the
Education Submission Procedures for
submitting an application through
Grants.gov that are included in the
application package for this competition
to ensure that you submit your
application in a timely manner to the
Grants.gov system. You can also find the
Education Submission Procedures
pertaining to Grants.gov at https://eGrants.ed.gov/help/
GrantsgovSubmissionProcedures.pdf.
• To submit your application via
Grants.gov, you must complete all steps
in the Grants.gov registration process
(see https://www.grants.gov/applicants/
get_registered.jsp ). These steps include
(1) registering your organization, a
multi-part process that includes
registration with the Central Contractor
Registry (CCR); (2) registering yourself
as an Authorized Organization
Representative (AOR); and (3) getting
authorized as an AOR by your
organization. Details on these steps are
outlined in the Grants.gov 3–Step
Registration Guide (see https://
www.grants.gov/section910/
Grants.govRegistrationBrochure.pdf).
You also must provide on your
application the same D-U-N-S Number
used with this registration. Please note
that the registration process may take
five or more business days to complete,
and you must have completed all
registration steps to allow you to submit
successfully an application via
Grants.gov. In addition you will need to
update your CCR registration on an
annual basis. This may take three or
more business days to complete.
• You will not receive additional
point value because you submit your
application in electronic format, nor
will we penalize you if you submit your
application in paper format.
• If you submit your application
electronically, you must submit all
documents electronically, including all
information you typically provide on
the following forms: Application for
Federal Assistance (SF 424), the
Department of Education Supplemental
Information for SF 424, Budget
Information—Non-Construction
Programs (ED 524), and all necessary
assurances and certifications. Please
note that two of these forms—the SF 424
and the Department of Education
Supplemental Information for SF 424—
have replaced the ED 424 (Application
for Federal Education Assistance).
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• If you submit your application
electronically, you must attach any
narrative sections of your application as
files in a .DOC (document), RTF (rich
text), or .PDF (Portable Document)
format. If you upload a file type other
than the three file types specified in this
paragraph or submit a passwordprotected file, we will not review that
material.
• Your electronic application must
comply with any page-limit
requirements described in this notice.
• After you electronically submit
your application, you will receive from
Grants.gov an automatic notification of
receipt that contains a Grants.gov
tracking number. (This notification
indicates receipt by Grants.gov only, not
receipt by the Department.) The
Department then will retrieve your
application from Grants.gov and send a
second notification to you by e-mail.
This second notification indicates that
the Department has received your
application and has assigned your
application a PR/Award number (an EDspecified identifying number unique to
your application).
• We may request that you provide us
original signatures on forms at a later
date.
Application Deadline Date Extension
in Case of Technical Issues With the
Grants.gov System: If you are
experiencing problems submitting your
application through Grants.gov, please
contact the Grants.gov Support Desk,
toll free, at 1–800–518–4726. You must
obtain a Grants.gov Support Desk Case
Number and must keep a record of it.
If you are prevented from
electronically submitting your
application on the application deadline
date because of technical problems with
the Grants.gov system, we will grant you
an extension until 4:30:00 p.m.,
Washington, DC time, the following
business day to enable you to transmit
your application electronically or by
hand delivery. You also may mail your
application by following the mailing
instructions described elsewhere in this
notice.
If you submit an application after
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on
the application deadline date, please
contact the person listed under FOR
FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in
section VII in this notice and provide an
explanation of the technical problem
you experienced with Grants.gov, along
with the Grants.gov Support Desk Case
Number. We will accept your
application if we can confirm that a
technical problem occurred with the
Grants.gov system and that that problem
affected your ability to submit your
application by 4:30:00 p.m.,
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17:08 Sep 08, 2008
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Washington, DC time, on the
application deadline date. The
Department will contact you after a
determination is made on whether your
application will be accepted.
original and two copies of your
application by hand, on or before the
application deadline date, to the
Department at the following address:
U.S. Department of Education,
Application Control Center, Attention:
Note: The extensions to which we refer in
(CFDA Number 84.133S–1) 550 12th
this section apply only to the unavailability
of, or technical problems with, the Grants.gov Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center
Plaza, Washington, DC 20202–4260.
system. We will not grant you an extension
if you failed to fully register to submit your
The Application Control Center
application to Grants.gov before the
accepts hand deliveries daily between 8
application deadline date and time or if the
a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC
technical problem you experienced is
time, except Saturdays, Sundays, and
unrelated to the Grants.gov system.
Federal holidays.
b. Submission of Paper Applications
Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of
by Mail.
Paper Applications: If you mail or hand
If you submit your application in
deliver your application to the
paper format by mail (through the U.S.
Department—
Postal Service or a commercial carrier),
(1) You must indicate on the envelope
you must mail the original and two
and—if not provided by the
copies of your application, on or before
Department—in Item 11 of the SF 424
the application deadline date, to the
the CFDA number, including suffix
Department at the applicable following
letter, if any, of the competition under
address:
which you are submitting your
By mail through the U.S. Postal Service: application; and
(2) The Application Control Center
U.S. Department of Education,
will mail to you a notification of receipt
Application Control Center,
of your grant application. If you do not
Attention: (CFDA Number 84.133S–
receive this notification within 15
1), 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
business days from the application
Washington, DC 20202–4260; or
deadline date, you should call the U.S.
By mail through a commercial carrier:
Department of Education Application
U.S. Department of Education,
Control Center at (202) 245–6288.
Application Control Center, Stop
4260, Attention: (CFDA Number
V. Application Review Information
84.133S–1), 7100 Old Landover Road,
Selection Criteria: The selection
Landover, MD 20785–1506.
criteria for this competition are from 35
Regardless of which address you use,
CFR 75.210 of EDGAR and are listed in
you must show proof of mailing
the application package.
consisting of one of the following:
(1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service VI. Award Administration Information
postmark.
1. Award Notices: If your application
(2) A legible mail receipt with the
is successful, we notify your U.S.
date of mailing stamped by the U.S.
Representative and U.S. Senators and
Postal Service.
send you a Grant Award Notice (GAN).
(3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or We may notify you informally, also.
receipt from a commercial carrier.
If your application is not evaluated or
(4) Any other proof of mailing
not selected for funding, we notify you.
acceptable to the Secretary of the U.S.
2. Administrative and National Policy
Department of Education.
Requirements: We identify
If you mail your application through
administrative and national policy
the U.S. Postal Service, we do not
requirements in the application package
accept either of the following as proof
and reference these and other
of mailing:
requirements in the Applicable
(1) A private metered postmark.
Regulations section in this notice.
(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by
We reference the regulations outlining
the U.S. Postal Service.
the terms and conditions of an award in
If your application is postmarked after the Applicable Regulations section in
the application deadline date, we will
this notice and include these and other
not consider your application.
specific conditions in the GAN. The
Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not
GAN also incorporates your approved
uniformly provide a dated postmark. Before
application as part of your binding
relying on this method, you should check
commitments under the grant.
with your local post office.
3. Reporting: At the end of your
project period, you must submit a final
c. Submission of Paper Applications
performance report, including financial
by Hand Delivery.
information, as directed by the
If you submit your application in
Secretary. If you receive a multi-year
paper format by hand delivery, you (or
award, you must submit an annual
a courier service) must deliver the
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performance report that provides the
most current performance and financial
expenditure information as directed by
the Secretary under 34 CFR 75.118. The
Secretary may also require more
frequent performance reports under 34
CFR 75.720(c). For specific
requirements on reporting, please go to
https://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/
appforms/appforms.html.
4. Performance Measures: To evaluate
the overall success of its research
program, NIDRR assesses the quality of
its funded projects through review of
grantee performance and products. Each
year, NIDRR examines, through expert
review, a portion of its grantees to
determine:
• The degree to which the grantees
are conducting high-quality research, as
reflected in the appropriateness of study
designs, the rigor with which accepted
standards of scientific and engineering
methods are applied, and the degree to
which the research builds on and
contributes to the level of knowledge in
the field; and
• The number of new or improved
assistive and universally designed
technologies, products, and devices
developed by grantees that are deemed
to improve rehabilitation services and
outcomes, enhance opportunities for
participation by individuals with
disabilities, and are successfully
transferred to industry or other private
entities for potential commercialization.
jlentini on PROD1PC65 with NOTICES
VII. Agency Contact
For Further Information Contact:
Lynn Medley, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
room 6027, Potomac Center Plaza,
Washington, DC 20202–2700.
Telephone: (202) 245–7338 or by e-mail:
Lynn.Medley@ed.gov.
If you use a TDD, call the TDD
number at (202) 205–4475.
VIII. Other Information
Alternative Format: Individuals with
disabilities can obtain this document
and a copy of the application package in
an alternative format (e.g. , Braille, large
print, audiotape, or computer diskette)
by contacting the Grants and Contracts
Services Team, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW.,
room 5075, PCP, Washington, DC
20202–2550. Telephone: (202) 245–
7363. If you use a TDD, call the Federal
Relay Service, toll free, at 1–800–877–
8339.
Electronic Access to This Document:
You can view this document, as well as
all other documents of this Department
published in the Federal Register, in
text or Adobe Portable Document
Format (PDF) on the Internet at the
VerDate Aug<31>2005
17:08 Sep 08, 2008
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following site: https://www.ed.gov/news/
fedregister.
To use PDF you must have Adobe
Acrobat Reader, which is available free
at this site. If you have questions about
using PDF, call the U.S. Government
Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1–
888–293–6498; or in the Washington,
DC, area at (202) 512–1530.
Note: The official version of this document
is the document published in the Federal
Register. Free Internet access to the official
edition of the Federal Register and the Code
of Federal Regulations is available on GPO
Access at: https://www.gpoaccess.gov/nara/
index.html.
Dated: September 4, 2008.
Tracy R. Justesen,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. E8–20906 Filed 9–8–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000–01–P
52337
Tentative Agenda: Discuss drafts of
reports and electricity policy
recommendations.
Public Participation: The meeting will
be open to the public. Members of the
public who wish to speak or submit
comments should contact David Meyer
at david.meyer@hq.doe.gov, or (202)
586–1411. Copies of draft reports, the
agenda for the meeting, and additional
information are available at the EAC
Web site: https://www.oe.energy.gov/eac_
meetings.htm.
Minutes: The minutes from this
meeting will also be posted to this
website within 45 days following the
meeting.
Issued in Washington, DC on September 4,
2008.
Rachel Samuel,
Committee Management Officer.
[FR Doc. E8–20848 Filed 9–8–08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 6450–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY
Electricity Advisory Committee
State Energy Advisory Board
AGENCY:
Department of Energy, Office of
Electricity Delivery and Energy
Reliability.
ACTION: Notice of open meeting.
AGENCY:
SUMMARY: The Department of Energy,
Office of Electricity Delivery and Energy
Reliability established the Electricity
Advisory Committee on January 29,
2008 for a two-year period. The
Committee was created to provide
advice to the Assistant Secretary for
Electricity Delivery and Energy
Reliability, on long range planning and
priorities for the modernization of the
Nation’s electricity delivery
infrastructure. The Electricity Advisory
Committee will hold a two-day meeting
in Washington DC to discuss drafts of
reports and electricity policy
recommendations that the Committee
may later submit to the Department of
Energy.
DATES: September 25, 2008, 3:30 p.m. to
6 p.m. September 26, 2008, 8:30 a.m. to
2 p.m.
Location: September 25, 2008, Ronald
Reagan Building and International
Trade Center, 1300 Pennsylvania
Avenue, NW., Washington, DC 20004.
September 26, 2008, L’Enfant Plaza
Hotel, 480 L’Enfant Plaza, SW.,
Washington, DC 20024, Ballrooms C and
D.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
David Meyer, DOE Office of Electricity
Delivery and Energy Reliability, (202)
586–1411, david.meyer@hq.doe.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
SUMMARY: This notice announces a
teleconference of the State Energy
Advisory Board (STEAB). The Federal
Advisory Committee Act (Pub. L. 92–
463; 86 Stat. 770) requires that public
notice of these teleconferences be
announced in the Federal Register.
DATES: September 18, 2008 at 1 p.m.
EDT.
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Department of Energy, Office of
Energy Efficiency and Renewable
Energy.
ACTION: Notice of open teleconference.
Gary
Burch, STEAB Designated Federal
Officer, Acting Assistant Manager,
Office of Commercialization and &
Project Management, Golden Field
Office, U.S. Department of Energy, 1617
Cole Boulevard, Golden, CO 80401,
Telephone 303/275–4801.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Purpose of the Board: To make
recommendations to the Assistant
Secretary for the Office of Energy
Efficiency and Renewable Energy
regarding goals and objectives,
programmatic and administrative
policies, and to otherwise carry out the
Board’s responsibilities as designated in
the State Energy Efficiency Programs
Improvement Act of 1990 (Pub. L. No.
101–440).
Tentative Agenda: Update members
on routine business matters.
Public Participation: The
teleconference is open to the public.
Written statements may be filed with
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
E:\FR\FM\09SEN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 73, Number 175 (Tuesday, September 9, 2008)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52332-52337]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: E8-20906]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION
Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS),
Overview Information; National Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR)--Small Business Innovation Research
Program (SBIR)--Phase I; Notice Inviting Applications for New Awards
for Fiscal Year (FY) 2009
Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance (CFDA) Number: 84.133S-1.
DATES:
Applications Available: September 9, 2008.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: November 10, 2008.
[[Page 52333]]
Full Text of Announcement
I. Funding Opportunity Description
Purpose of Program: The purpose of this program is to stimulate
technological innovation in the private sector, strengthen the role of
small business in meeting Federal research or research and development
(R/R&D) needs, increase the commercial application of the U.S.
Department of Education (Department) supported research results, and
improve the return on investment from federally funded research for
economic and social benefits to the Nation.
Note: This program is in concert with President George W. Bush's
New Freedom Initiative (NFI) and NIDRR's Final Long-Range Plan for
FY 2005-2009 (Plan). The NFI can be accessed on the Internet at the
following site: https://www.whitehouse.gov/infocus/newfreedom.
The Plan, which was published in the Federal Register on February
15, 2006 (71 FR Doc 8166), can be accessed on the Internet at the
following site: https://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/osers/nidrr/
policy.html.
Through the implementation of the NFI and the Plan, NIDRR seeks to:
(1) Improve the quality and utility of disability and rehabilitation
research; (2) foster an exchange of expertise, information, and
training to facilitate the advancement of knowledge and understanding
of the unique needs of individuals with disabilities from traditionally
underserved populations; (3) determine best strategies and programs to
improve rehabilitation outcomes for individuals with disabilities from
underserved populations; (4) identify research gaps; (5) identify
mechanisms of integrating research and practice; and (6) disseminate
findings.
NIDRR Supports Manufacturing-Related Innovation (Executive Order
13329): Executive Order 13329 states that continued technological
innovation is critical to a strong manufacturing sector in the United
States economy and ensures that Federal agencies assist the private
sector in its manufacturing innovation efforts. The Department's SBIR
program encourages innovative research and development (R&D) projects
that are manufacturing-related, as defined by Executive Order 13329.
Manufacturing-related R&D encompasses improvements in existing methods
or processes, or wholly new processes, machines, or systems. The
projects supported under the Department's SBIR program encompass a
range of manufacturing-related R&D, including projects leading to the
manufacture of such items as artificial intelligence or information
technology devices, software, and systems. For more information on
Executive Order 13329, please visit the following Web site: https://
www.sba.gov/sbir/execorder.html or contact Lynn Medley at:
lynn.medley@ed.gov.
Background
The Small Business Reauthorization Act of 2000 (Act) was enacted on
December 21, 2000. The Act requires certain agencies, including the
Department, to establish SBIR programs by reserving a statutory
percentage of their extramural R&D budgets to be awarded to small
business concerns through a uniform, highly competitive three-phase
process.
The three phases of the SBIR program are:
Phase I: Phase I projects determine, insofar as possible, the
scientific or technical merit and feasibility of ideas submitted under
the SBIR program. An application for Phase I should concentrate on
research that will significantly contribute to proving the scientific
or technical feasibility of the approach or concept. Scientific or
technical feasibility is a prerequisite to further support by the
Department in Phase II.
Phase II: Phase II projects expand on the results of and further
pursue the development of Phase I projects. Phase II is the principal
R/R&D effort of the SBIR program. Applications for Phase II projects
must be more comprehensive than applications for Phase I projects;
Phase II applications must outline the proposed effort in detail,
including the commercial potential of projects or processes developed
or researched during the Phase I project. Phase II applicants must be
Phase I grantees with approaches that appear sufficiently promising as
a result of their efforts in Phase I. Phase II awards are for periods
of up to two years in amounts up to a maximum total of $500,000 over a
period of two years.
Phase III: In Phase III, the small business grantee must use non-
SBIR capital to pursue commercial applications of the R/R&D. Also,
under Phase III, Federal agencies may award non-SBIR follow-on funding
for products or processes that meet the needs of those agencies.
All SBIR projects funded by NIDRR must address the needs of
individuals with disabilities and their families. (See 29 U.S.C. 762.)
Activities may include: conducting manufacturing-related R&D that
encompasses improvements in existing methods or processes, or wholly
new processes, machines, or systems; exploring the uses of technology
to ensure equal access to education, employment, community
environments, and information for individuals with disabilities; and
improving the quality and utility of disability and rehabilitation
research.
Priorities: Under this competition we are particularly interested
in applications that address one of the following priorities.
Invitational Priorities: For FY 2009 these priorities are
invitational priorities. Under 34 CFR 75.105(c)(1) we do not give an
application that meets one of these invitational priorities a
competitive or absolute preference over other applications.
These priorities are:
Each of the following priorities relate to innovative research
utilizing new technologies to address the needs of individuals with
disabilities and their families. Applicants who choose to respond to
one of the invitational priorities must propose projects whose
activities contribute to one of the following outcomes:
(1) Increased independence of individuals with disabilities in the
workplace, recreational settings, or educational settings through the
development of technology to support access and promote integration of
individuals with disabilities.
(2) Enhanced sensory or motor function of individuals with
disabilities through the development of technology to support improved
functional capacity.
(3) Enhanced workforce participation through the development of
technology to support access to employment, promote sustained
employment, and promote employment advancement for individuals with
disabilities.
(4) Enhanced community participation and living for individuals
with disabilities through the development of accessible information
technology including Web access technology, software, and other systems
and devices that promote access to information in educational,
employment, and community settings, and voting technology that improves
access for individuals with disabilities.
(5) Improved interventions and increased use of health-care
resources through the development of technology to support independent
access to health-care services in the community for individuals with
disabilities.
Applicants should describe the approaches they expect to use to
collect empirical evidence demonstrating the effectiveness of the
technology they are proposing. This empirical evidence should
facilitate the assessment of the
[[Page 52334]]
efficacy and usefulness of the technology.
Note: NIDRR encourages applicants to adhere to universal design
principles and guidelines. Universal design is defined as ``the
design of products and environments to be usable by all people, to
the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or
specialized design'' (The Center for Universal Design, 1997).
Accessible design of consumer products minimizes or alleviates
barriers that reduce the ability of individuals with disabilities to
effectively or safely use standard consumer products. (For more
information see https://www.trace.wisc.edu/docs/consumer_product_
guidelines/consumer.pcs/disabil.htm ).
Reference: The Center for Universal Design. (1997). The Principles
of Universal Design, Version 2.0. Raleigh, NC: North Carolina State
University. Web: www.design.ncsu.edu.
Program Authority: The Small Business Act, Pub. L. 85-536, as
amended (15 U.S.C. 631 and 638), and title II of the Rehabilitation Act
of 1973, as amended (29 U.S.C. 760, et seq.).
Applicable Regulations: The Education Department General
Administrative Regulations (EDGAR) in 34 CFR parts 75, 77, 81, 82, 84,
85, 97, 98, and 99.
II. Award Information
Type of Award: Discretionary grants.
Estimated Available Funds: The Administration has requested
$105,700,000 for the National Institute on Disability and
Rehabilitation Research for FY 2009, of which we intend to use an
estimated $1,125,000 for new Phase I awards under the SBIR program. The
actual level of funding, if any, depends on final congressional action.
However, we are inviting applications to allow enough time to complete
the grant process if Congress appropriates funds for this program.
Note: The estimated amount of funds available for new Phase I
awards is based upon the estimated threshold SBIR allocation for
OSERS, minus prior commitments for Phase II continuation awards.
Estimated Range of Awards: $70,000-$75,000.
Estimated Average Size of Awards: $75,000.
Maximum Award: We will reject any application that proposes a
budget exceeding $75,000 for a single budget period of up to six
months. The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services may change the maximum amount through a notice
published in the Federal Register.
Note: The maximum award amount includes direct and indirect
costs and fees.
Estimated Number of Awards: 15.
Note: The Department is not bound by any estimates in this
notice.
Maximum Project Period: We will reject any application that
proposes a project period that exceeds a single budget period of up to
six months. The Assistant Secretary for Special Education and
Rehabilitative Services may change the maximum project period through a
notice published in the Federal Register.
III. Eligibility Information
1. Eligible Applicants: Entities that are, at the time of award,
small business concerns as defined by the Small Business Administration
(SBA). This definition is included in the application package.
All technology, science, or engineering firms with strong research
capabilities in any of the priority areas listed in this notice are
encouraged to participate.
Consultative or other arrangements between these firms and
universities or other non-profit organizations are permitted, but the
small business concern must serve as the grantee. For Phase I projects,
at least two-thirds of the research and/or analytic activities must be
performed by the proposing small business concern. Furthermore, the
total of all consultant fees, facility leases or usage fees, and other
subcontracts or purchase agreements may not exceed one-third of the
total funding award.
If it appears that an applicant organization does not meet the
eligibility requirements, we will request an evaluation by the SBA.
Under circumstances in which eligibility is unclear, we will not make
an SBIR award until the SBA makes a determination.
2. Cost Sharing or Matching: This program does not require cost
sharing or matching.
IV. Application and Submission Information
1. Address to Request Application Package: You can obtain an
application package via the Internet or from the Education Publications
Center (ED Pubs). To obtain a copy via the Internet, use the following
address: https://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/grantapps/.
To obtain a copy from ED Pubs, write, fax, or call the following:
Education Publications Center, P.O. Box 1398, Jessup, MD 20794-1398.
Telephone, toll free: 1-877-433-7827. FAX: (301) 470-1244. If you use a
telecommunications device for the deaf (TDD), call, toll free: 1-877-
576-7734.
You can contact ED Pubs at its Web site, also: https://www.ed.gov/
pubs/edpubs.html or at its e-mail address: edpubs@inet.ed.gov.
If you request an application from ED Pubs, be sure to identify
this competition as follows: CFDA number 84.133S-1.
Individuals with disabilities can obtain a copy of the application
package in an alternative format (e.g. , Braille, large print,
audiotape, or computer diskette) by contacting the person listed under
Alternative Format in section VIII of this notice.
2. Content and Form of Application Submission: Requirements
concerning the content of an application, together with the forms you
must submit, are in the application package for this competition.
Page Limit: The application narrative (Part III of the application)
is where you, the applicant, address the selection criteria that
reviewers use to evaluate your application. You must limit the
application narrative (Part III) to the equivalent of no more than 25
pages, excluding any documentation of prior multiple Phase II awards,
if applicable, and required forms, using the following standards:
A ``page'' is 8.5'' x 11'', on one side only, with 1''
margins at the top, bottom, and both sides.
Single space all text in the application narrative. Single
space titles, headings, footnotes, quotations, references, and
captions, as well as all text in charts, tables, figures, and graphs.
Use a font that is either 12 point or larger or no smaller
than 10 pitch (characters per inch).
The page limit does not apply to Part I, the coversheet; Part II,
the budget section, including the narrative budget justification; Part
IV, the assurances and certifications; or the one-page abstract, the
resumes, the bibliography, the letters of support; related
application(s) or award(s); or documentation of multiple Phase II
awards, if applicable. However, the page limit does apply to all of the
application narrative section (Part III).
We will reject your application if you exceed the page limit.
The application package will provide instructions for completing
all components to be included in the application. Each application must
include a cover sheet (Standard Form 424); budget requirements (ED Form
524) and narrative justification; other required forms; an abstract,
Human Subjects narrative, Part III narrative; resume of staff; and
other related materials, if applicable.
[[Page 52335]]
3. Content Restrictions: If an applicant chooses to respond to more
than one invitational priority, the applicant must submit a separate
application for each priority. There is no limitation on the number of
different applications that an applicant may submit under this
competition. An applicant may submit separate applications on different
priorities, or different applications on the same priority. However, an
applicant may address only one priority in an application.
The Plan is organized around the following research domains and
arenas: (1) Community Living and Participation; (2) Health and
Function; (3) Technology; (4) Employment; and (5) Demographics.
Applicants should indicate, for each application, the domain or arena
under which they are applying. In their applications, applicants should
clearly indicate whether they are applying for a research grant in the
area of (1) Community Living and Participation; (2) Health and
Function; (3) Technology; (4) Employment; or (5) Demographics. No more
than one designation should be selected for each application.
4. Submission Dates and Times:
Applications Available: September 9, 2008.
Deadline for Transmittal of Applications: November 10, 2008.
Applications for grants under this competition may be submitted
electronically using the Grants.gov Apply site (Grants.gov), or in
paper format by mail or hand delivery. For information (including dates
and times) about how to submit your application electronically, or in
paper format by mail or hand delivery, please refer to section IV. 7.
Other Submission Requirements in this notice.
We do not consider an application that does not comply with the
deadline requirements.
Individuals with disabilities who need an accommodation or
auxiliary aid in connection with the application process should contact
the person listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII
in this notice. If the Department provides an accommodation or
auxiliary aid to an individual with a disability in connection with the
application process, the individual's application remains subject to
all other requirements and limitations in this notice.
5. Intergovernmental Review: This program is not subject to
Executive Order 12372 and the regulations in 34 CFR part 79.
6. Funding Restrictions: We reference regulations outlining funding
restrictions in the Applicable Regulations section in this notice.
7. Other Submission Requirements: Applications for grants under
this program may be submitted electronically or in paper format by mail
or hand delivery.
a. Electronic Submission of Applications.
To comply with the President's Management Agenda, we are
participating as a partner in the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site.
The SBIR Program, CFDA Number 84.133S-1, is included in this project.
We request your participation in Grants.gov.
If you choose to submit your application electronically, you must
use the Governmentwide Grants.gov Apply site at https://www.Grants.gov.
Through this site, you will be able to download a copy of the
application package, complete it offline, and then upload and submit
your application. You may not e-mail an electronic copy of a grant
application to us.
You may access the electronic grant application for the SBIR
Program at: https://www.Grants.gov. You must search for the downloadable
application package for this competition by the CFDA number. Do not
include the CFDA number's alpha suffix in your search (e.g. , search
for 84.133, not 84.133S).
Please note the following:
Your participation in Grants.gov is voluntary.
When you enter the Grants.gov site, you will find
information about submitting an application electronically through the
site, as well as the hours of operation.
Applications received by Grants.gov are date and time
stamped. Your application must be fully uploaded and submitted and must
be date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system no later than 4:30:00
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. Except as
otherwise noted in this section, we will not accept your application if
it is received--that is, date and time stamped by the Grants.gov
system--after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application
deadline date. We do not consider an application that does not comply
with the deadline requirements. When we retrieve your application from
Grants.gov, we will notify you if we are rejecting your application
because it was date and time stamped by the Grants.gov system after
4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date.
The amount of time it can take to upload an application
will vary depending on a variety of factors, including the size of the
application and the speed of your Internet connection. Therefore, we
strongly recommend that you do not wait until the application deadline
date to begin the submission process through Grants.gov.
You should review and follow the Education Submission
Procedures for submitting an application through Grants.gov that are
included in the application package for this competition to ensure that
you submit your application in a timely manner to the Grants.gov
system. You can also find the Education Submission Procedures
pertaining to Grants.gov at https://e-Grants.ed.gov/help/
GrantsgovSubmissionProcedures.pdf.
To submit your application via Grants.gov, you must
complete all steps in the Grants.gov registration process (see https://
www.grants.gov/applicants/get_registered.jsp ). These steps include
(1) registering your organization, a multi-part process that includes
registration with the Central Contractor Registry (CCR); (2)
registering yourself as an Authorized Organization Representative
(AOR); and (3) getting authorized as an AOR by your organization.
Details on these steps are outlined in the Grants.gov 3-Step
Registration Guide (see https://www.grants.gov/section910/
Grants.govRegistrationBrochure.pdf). You also must provide on your
application the same D-U-N-S Number used with this registration. Please
note that the registration process may take five or more business days
to complete, and you must have completed all registration steps to
allow you to submit successfully an application via Grants.gov. In
addition you will need to update your CCR registration on an annual
basis. This may take three or more business days to complete.
You will not receive additional point value because you
submit your application in electronic format, nor will we penalize you
if you submit your application in paper format.
If you submit your application electronically, you must
submit all documents electronically, including all information you
typically provide on the following forms: Application for Federal
Assistance (SF 424), the Department of Education Supplemental
Information for SF 424, Budget Information--Non-Construction Programs
(ED 524), and all necessary assurances and certifications. Please note
that two of these forms--the SF 424 and the Department of Education
Supplemental Information for SF 424--have replaced the ED 424
(Application for Federal Education Assistance).
[[Page 52336]]
If you submit your application electronically, you must
attach any narrative sections of your application as files in a .DOC
(document), RTF (rich text), or .PDF (Portable Document) format. If you
upload a file type other than the three file types specified in this
paragraph or submit a password-protected file, we will not review that
material.
Your electronic application must comply with any page-
limit requirements described in this notice.
After you electronically submit your application, you will
receive from Grants.gov an automatic notification of receipt that
contains a Grants.gov tracking number. (This notification indicates
receipt by Grants.gov only, not receipt by the Department.) The
Department then will retrieve your application from Grants.gov and send
a second notification to you by e-mail. This second notification
indicates that the Department has received your application and has
assigned your application a PR/Award number (an ED-specified
identifying number unique to your application).
We may request that you provide us original signatures on
forms at a later date.
Application Deadline Date Extension in Case of Technical Issues
With the Grants.gov System: If you are experiencing problems submitting
your application through Grants.gov, please contact the Grants.gov
Support Desk, toll free, at 1-800-518-4726. You must obtain a
Grants.gov Support Desk Case Number and must keep a record of it.
If you are prevented from electronically submitting your
application on the application deadline date because of technical
problems with the Grants.gov system, we will grant you an extension
until 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC time, the following business day to
enable you to transmit your application electronically or by hand
delivery. You also may mail your application by following the mailing
instructions described elsewhere in this notice.
If you submit an application after 4:30:00 p.m., Washington, DC
time, on the application deadline date, please contact the person
listed under FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT in section VII in this
notice and provide an explanation of the technical problem you
experienced with Grants.gov, along with the Grants.gov Support Desk
Case Number. We will accept your application if we can confirm that a
technical problem occurred with the Grants.gov system and that that
problem affected your ability to submit your application by 4:30:00
p.m., Washington, DC time, on the application deadline date. The
Department will contact you after a determination is made on whether
your application will be accepted.
Note: The extensions to which we refer in this section apply
only to the unavailability of, or technical problems with, the
Grants.gov system. We will not grant you an extension if you failed
to fully register to submit your application to Grants.gov before
the application deadline date and time or if the technical problem
you experienced is unrelated to the Grants.gov system.
b. Submission of Paper Applications by Mail.
If you submit your application in paper format by mail (through the
U.S. Postal Service or a commercial carrier), you must mail the
original and two copies of your application, on or before the
application deadline date, to the Department at the applicable
following address:
By mail through the U.S. Postal Service: U.S. Department of Education,
Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.133S-1), 400
Maryland Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20202-4260; or
By mail through a commercial carrier: U.S. Department of Education,
Application Control Center, Stop 4260, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.133S-
1), 7100 Old Landover Road, Landover, MD 20785-1506.
Regardless of which address you use, you must show proof of mailing
consisting of one of the following:
(1) A legibly dated U.S. Postal Service postmark.
(2) A legible mail receipt with the date of mailing stamped by the
U.S. Postal Service.
(3) A dated shipping label, invoice, or receipt from a commercial
carrier.
(4) Any other proof of mailing acceptable to the Secretary of the
U.S. Department of Education.
If you mail your application through the U.S. Postal Service, we do
not accept either of the following as proof of mailing:
(1) A private metered postmark.
(2) A mail receipt that is not dated by the U.S. Postal Service.
If your application is postmarked after the application deadline
date, we will not consider your application.
Note: The U.S. Postal Service does not uniformly provide a dated
postmark. Before relying on this method, you should check with your
local post office.
c. Submission of Paper Applications by Hand Delivery.
If you submit your application in paper format by hand delivery,
you (or a courier service) must deliver the original and two copies of
your application by hand, on or before the application deadline date,
to the Department at the following address: U.S. Department of
Education, Application Control Center, Attention: (CFDA Number 84.133S-
1) 550 12th Street, SW., Room 7041, Potomac Center Plaza, Washington,
DC 20202-4260.
The Application Control Center accepts hand deliveries daily
between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Washington, DC time, except Saturdays,
Sundays, and Federal holidays.
Note for Mail or Hand Delivery of Paper Applications: If you mail
or hand deliver your application to the Department--
(1) You must indicate on the envelope and--if not provided by the
Department--in Item 11 of the SF 424 the CFDA number, including suffix
letter, if any, of the competition under which you are submitting your
application; and
(2) The Application Control Center will mail to you a notification
of receipt of your grant application. If you do not receive this
notification within 15 business days from the application deadline
date, you should call the U.S. Department of Education Application
Control Center at (202) 245-6288.
V. Application Review Information
Selection Criteria: The selection criteria for this competition are
from 35 CFR 75.210 of EDGAR and are listed in the application package.
VI. Award Administration Information
1. Award Notices: If your application is successful, we notify your
U.S. Representative and U.S. Senators and send you a Grant Award Notice
(GAN). We may notify you informally, also.
If your application is not evaluated or not selected for funding,
we notify you.
2. Administrative and National Policy Requirements: We identify
administrative and national policy requirements in the application
package and reference these and other requirements in the Applicable
Regulations section in this notice.
We reference the regulations outlining the terms and conditions of
an award in the Applicable Regulations section in this notice and
include these and other specific conditions in the GAN. The GAN also
incorporates your approved application as part of your binding
commitments under the grant.
3. Reporting: At the end of your project period, you must submit a
final performance report, including financial information, as directed
by the Secretary. If you receive a multi-year award, you must submit an
annual
[[Page 52337]]
performance report that provides the most current performance and
financial expenditure information as directed by the Secretary under 34
CFR 75.118. The Secretary may also require more frequent performance
reports under 34 CFR 75.720(c). For specific requirements on reporting,
please go to https://www.ed.gov/fund/grant/apply/appforms/appforms.html.
4. Performance Measures: To evaluate the overall success of its
research program, NIDRR assesses the quality of its funded projects
through review of grantee performance and products. Each year, NIDRR
examines, through expert review, a portion of its grantees to
determine:
The degree to which the grantees are conducting high-
quality research, as reflected in the appropriateness of study designs,
the rigor with which accepted standards of scientific and engineering
methods are applied, and the degree to which the research builds on and
contributes to the level of knowledge in the field; and
The number of new or improved assistive and universally
designed technologies, products, and devices developed by grantees that
are deemed to improve rehabilitation services and outcomes, enhance
opportunities for participation by individuals with disabilities, and
are successfully transferred to industry or other private entities for
potential commercialization.
VII. Agency Contact
For Further Information Contact: Lynn Medley, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 6027, Potomac Center Plaza,
Washington, DC 20202-2700. Telephone: (202) 245-7338 or by e-mail:
Lynn.Medley@ed.gov.
If you use a TDD, call the TDD number at (202) 205-4475.
VIII. Other Information
Alternative Format: Individuals with disabilities can obtain this
document and a copy of the application package in an alternative format
(e.g. , Braille, large print, audiotape, or computer diskette) by
contacting the Grants and Contracts Services Team, U.S. Department of
Education, 400 Maryland Avenue, SW., room 5075, PCP, Washington, DC
20202-2550. Telephone: (202) 245-7363. If you use a TDD, call the
Federal Relay Service, toll free, at 1-800-877-8339.
Electronic Access to This Document: You can view this document, as
well as all other documents of this Department published in the Federal
Register, in text or Adobe Portable Document Format (PDF) on the
Internet at the following site: https://www.ed.gov/news/fedregister.
To use PDF you must have Adobe Acrobat Reader, which is available
free at this site. If you have questions about using PDF, call the U.S.
Government Printing Office (GPO), toll free, at 1-888-293-6498; or in
the Washington, DC, area at (202) 512-1530.
Note: The official version of this document is the document
published in the Federal Register. Free Internet access to the
official edition of the Federal Register and the Code of Federal
Regulations is available on GPO Access at: https://www.gpoaccess.gov/
nara/.
Dated: September 4, 2008.
Tracy R. Justesen,
Assistant Secretary for Special Education and Rehabilitative Services.
[FR Doc. E8-20906 Filed 9-8-08; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4000-01-P